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7/29/2016

You are receiving Sharing Neighborhoods as a registered subscriber. Sharing Neighborhoods is a publication of New Jersey SHARES, on the web at www.NJSHARES.org.

presidents message

Jim Jacob, President & CEO

Over the course of the past month, we have experienced intense heat throughout the state of New Jersey – please remember that NJ SHARES is here to help individuals and households in need stay cool and beat the summer heat. We remain dedicated to connecting neighbors in need of energy assistance with all the resources available to help them.

Summer particularly reminds us of the importance of water. NJ SHARES continues to partner with Suez Water and New Jersey American Water to bring water assistance to their customers in crisis through two unique programs. Both SUEZ Cares and NJAW H20 to Help Others provide grants to pay the water bills of households in need through a network of community-based social service agencies located throughout both water companies’ service territories.

This summer, we will be starting a pilot outreach program to make our clients aware of the New Jersey Comfort Partners Program, an energy saving and education program. As a state and utility sponsored program, Comfort Partners is available free of charge for qualified low-income individuals, and has helped more than 100,000 families since it was launched in 2001.

Through our pilot outreach program, NJ SHARES will be making calls and sending mailers to prior clients to see if they are interested in working with Comfort Partners to make their home more energy efficient. By partnering with Comfort Partners, eligible New Jersey residents will learn how to conserve energy and may receive energy saving tools, which will be installed in their home by a certified contractor, to help lower their energy bills. These energy-saving measures can include efficient lighting products, hot water conservation methods, replacement of inefficient refrigerators, duct sealing and repair, heating/cooling equipment maintenance and more, all provided free of charge. If you would like more information about Comfort Partners, click here.

Regards,

Jim Jacob

What's New

PSE&G Customers Raise $30,000 in Summer Campaign

PSE&G customers made generous contributions to NJ SHARES through PSE&G’s Bill Insert Summer Campaign, totaling nearly $30,000! Donations continue to come in – PSE&G will match these donations and any additional customer donations up to $100,000, DOUBLING the impact to those who need it most! You can help a neighbor in need by donating online today.

New Jersey Natural Gas Will Match Your Donation to NJ SHARES

If you're a New Jersey Natural Gas customer, a charitable donation to NJ SHARES can have DOUBLE the impact on those who need it the most! NJNG will match your donation, dollar-for-dollar, up to $27,000 when you donate to NJ SHARES – look for an insert in your July bill or donate online. Your donation today to NJ SHARES can help your neighbors weather any storm.

Sun National Bank Joins NJ SHARES’ Board of Directors

On July 23, the NJ SHARES Board of Directors elected Sun National Bank to serve as a trustee.

“Sun National Bank shares our commitment to the low-and moderate income communities in New Jersey,” said Jim Jacob, President and CEO of NJ SHARES. “Our new partnership provides another avenue to reach the population who need our services and additional opportunities to strengthen our communities.”

Thomas R. Brugger will serve as the representative for Sun National Bank on the NJ SHARES Board. Tomjoined Sun National Bank in November 2012 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In this role, his responsibilities include financial reporting and planning, accounting, treasury, interest rate risk management, investor relations and capital planning. Before joining Sun National Bank, Tom was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Customers Bancorp, Inc. and Executive Vice President, Corporate Treasurer for Sovereign Bancorp and Sovereign Bank. He is a graduate of Penn State University, where he continues to sit on the Advisory Board for Penn State Outreach.

“Sun National Bank is pleased support the efforts of NJ SHARES in helping neighbors afford their utility bills,” said Tom. “I personally look forward to doing what I can to help NJ SHARES execute their wonderful mission.”

The NJ SHARES Board of Directors is comprised of representatives from the following organizations and businesses: Advocates for Children of New Jersey, Atlantic City Electric, AARP, Bayada Nurses, Catholic Charities, Community Health Law Project, Elizabethtown Gas, Fuel Merchants Association of NJ, Jersey Central Power and Light-a FirstEnergy company, League of Municipalities, Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministry of NJ, Mr. Michael Swayze Founding Member, New Jersey Natural Gas, New Jersey Association of Jewish Federations, PNC Bank, Public Service Electric & Gas, Rockland Electric, South Jersey Gas, Sun National Bank, The Salvation Army and Verizon New Jersey.

Pictured at the event is our Board Member Gina LaPlaca, Government Affairs for Verizon.

Successful Dine-Out-To-Donate Event Proceeds to Help Atlantic County Residents with Energy Bills

Last month, NJ SHARES held a Dine-Out-To-Donate event at Tun Tavern in Atlantic City. The event welcomed attendees of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Conference, which was being held in Atlantic City during that same week. With all proceeds from the event going to Atlantic County residents in need of assistance with their energy bills, it was a night of celebration of our joint efforts to help New Jerseyans remain safe in their homes as they resolve their financial crisis.

NJ SHARES sends a big THANK YOU to all the participants of our Dine-Out-To-Donate event in Atlantic City – you all made this event the most successful one to date! Our success could not have been achieved without the support of many important people, including our guest bartenders Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian, NJ SHARES Board member Gina LaPlaca from Verizon New Jersey and Bill Bradshaw from New Jersey Natural Gas. These bartenders made the night fun for all who attended, all the while talking about the great work we do at NJ SHARES every day.

Special thanks also goes out to our Board members Alita Corbett of Atlantic City Electric, Gina LaPlaca of Verizon New Jersey, Greg Seitz of New Jersey Natural Gas, Joan Sweeney of South Jersey Gas and Claire Bartolomeo and Rosa Pagnillo-Lopez of PSE&G, all of whom rallied support to make this event so successful for the South Jersey community.

DEVILS Care Foundation Donates $3,000 to NJ SHARES Energy Program

The Devils Care Foundation, the charitable arm of the New Jersey Devils and Prudential Center, donated $3,000 to the NJ SHARES Energy Program. As part of their mission, the Devils and the Prudential Center aim to improve the lives of New Jersey’s youth. As “Jersey’s Team,” the Devils and the Foundation as a whole values and respects the importance of health and wellness, and remains dedicated to community assistance in various ways.

NJ SHARES President and CEO Jim Jacob said, “We are pleased to receive this foundation grant which will aid families in crisis with their energy bills. NJ SHARES has a long relationship with the New Jersey Devils. Together, we have come up with innovative ways to reach the community with our message and provide energy assistance to our neighbors in need.”

Kimberly Warrick, Director of Client Services for NJ SHARES, participated in the annual Call Center Conference and Expo held in Las Vegas June 27th through July 1st. The event gave NJ SHARES the opportunity learn more about best practices for call center management and showcase our unique client services call center. Presenting with our Shortel partners on the Customer Experience, Kimberly had the opportunity to converse with attendees on the flexibility of our systems in helping clients through our client services call center.

Pictured are attendees at the 2015 ACE Energy Summit.

Atlantic City Electric Will Host Energy Assistance Summit

Save the Date! Atlantic City Electric will host an Energy Assistance Summit on Thursday, August 25th. More than 100 representatives of non-profit and government agencies will attend the annual summit at the company’s headquarters in Mays Landing, NJ. The event will provide information on energy assistance programs and resources available for Atlantic City Electric customers, among other pertinent topics.

Agency Spotlight

From left to right that is Kaylen Ashcraft, Micah Haarklou, Mustafa Faheem, Christina D'Auria and Maura Clark.

NJ SHARES Partners with SBP New Jersey

NJ SHARES recently met with the New Jersey office of the SBP, Inc. (SBP) in Wall Township. SBP serves low - to moderate - income residents, with a special focus on families with small children, the elderly, disabled persons, war veterans, and under - and uninsured persons.

As part of its Super Storm Sandy recovery efforts, SBP works in Monmouth and Ocean counties rebuilding and repairing homes damaged by the storm. Thousands of families who lost their homes to Super Storm Sandy have now suffered through three winters without being home.

“Utility assistance is crucial for families still recovering from Super Storm Sandy and SBP is excited to be partnering with NJ SHARES to ease the burden of recovery for our clients," said Kevin McGee Director of SBP New Jersey.

"With this new partnership, NJ SHARES and SBP will collaborate to get the word out for families who need our services as part of their unmet needs in their efforts to recover from the economic and physical devastation left behind by Super Storm Sandy," said Jim Jacob, NJ SHARES President and CEO.

SBP was founded in March 2006 by Zack Rosenburg and Liz McCartney after the couple volunteered in St. Bernard Parish following Hurricane Katrina. Inspired by residents' collective spirit and fierce desire to rebuild their homes and communities, Zack and Liz launched SBP to help the community achieve its recovery goals.

With the tremendous support of donors, volunteers and corporate partners, SBP has grown from a three-person volunteer team into a nationally recognized leader in disaster resilience and recovery.

Legislative Spotlight

A Message from Assemblyman Benjie E. Wimberly from the 35th Legislative District

I was asked to again share with you, my thoughts regarding the Utility Assistance program of NJ SHARES.

Again, my first thought is “HOPE” for many communities.

Since, my last message in 2014, several good things have taken place. I introduced an Assembly Joint Resolution, during the 216th Legislature – AJR81 – that designates October of each year as “New Jersey Energy Action Month” to increase the public’s awareness of issues concerning energy security, energy efficiency, climate change, the environmental consequences related to energy consumption and conservation, and to celebrate New Jersey’s clean energy industries.

NJ SHARES is part of the fabric of this state that has made efforts to raise awareness of energy consumption and methods in which individuals, families and businesses can conserve energy that will have a positive impact on the amount of money individuals, families and businesses spend on energy bills.

In addition, I introduced this 217th Legislative Session another bill A1853, which provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns to support NJ SHARES. This piece of Legislation has already passed the General Assembly on June 16 th and now awaits action by the Senate. Now, we have to send messages to your State Senators asking them to post it in the Senate, so it can head to the Governor’s Desk to be signed into Law.

We just want you to know it hasn’t gone on deaf ears, your concerns about the rising costs of utilities, but as long as we continue to partner with organizations like NJ SHARES, we can count on them for the HOPE we need.

Let’s remember, people don’t wake up in the morning, saying “Today, I don’t want to have heat or electricity.”

That is why it is important for programs such as NJ SHARES to exist, because you never know the day YOU (meaning me, a family member, a friend or neighbor) may have to look to them for assistance. My motto is “Hope over Despair – Let’s be HOPE Pushers!”